Lubricating mechanism



L. B. EDWARDS. LUBRICATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUG.13, 1919.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Q L.B.Edw aro s LAKE IB. EDWARDS, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

LUBRICATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed August 13, 1919. Serial No. 317,260.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LAKE B. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anniston, in the county of Calhoun and State of Alabama, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricating Mechanism, of which the following 'is a specification, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings. 1

This invention relates to certain improvements in lubricating mechanism, and has relation more particularly to a mechanism of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with a motor of the internal combustion type, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved arrangement of parts whereby oil within the crank case is properl conveyed to the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this general character wherein the ignition system for the motor is rendered inoperative in the event the supply of oil becomes exhausted whereby the burning out of bearings or other trouble is substantially eliminated.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this general character comprising a circuit closer normally maintained open under the influence of the oil being carried from the crank case or other source of supply and which closer when in contact causes the ignition system for the motor to be rendered inoperative.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of the several arts of my improved luhricatin r mechanism whereby certain important zu vantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein is diagraming into contact with the outer matically illustrated byfigure partly in elevation and partly in section a lubricating mechanism constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

In the present embodiment of my invention I disclose my improved mechanism employed in connection with a motor of the well known Ford type, although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular type of motor.

y improved mechanism as herein disclosed comprises a cylinder 1 attached to the motor block on the right side and directly in line with thenumber four cam 2. The cylinder 1 is preferably threaded within an opening 3 in a block so that the plunger 4 working within the cylinder lmay be forced inwardly of the cylinder by the cam 2 comend of such plunger. The plunger 4 is constantly'urged outwardly by the expansible member 5, herein disclosed as a.coiled spring interposed between the inner end portion of the plunger 4 and the adjacent end or head of the cylinder 1.

Threaded or otherwise engaged with the outer end or head of the cylinder 1 and in communication therewith is a coupling T with the bore 6 of the head thereof provided with the longitudinally spaced seats 7 with each of which coacts a check valve 8 herein disclosed as a ball. The seats 7 and valves 8 are arranged at opposite sides of the bores 9 of the stem of the coupling T for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. i

The head of the coupling T is substantially vertically disposed and the lower portion of the bore 6 of said head is in communication through the pipe or conduit 10 with the lowermost part of the crank case (1 and preferably at the drain opening 11. Arranged within the casing Cand overlying the opening 11 is a strainer 12 which serves to )revent sediment and dregs entering within t e pipe or conduit 10 and thereby stopping ging the same.

The upper portion of the head of the coupling T-is in communication with a vertically disposed chamber 14. 15- denotes an outlet nozzle in communication with the or clogupper portion of the chamber 14 through the being longitudinally spaced as is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The nozzle 15 discharges within a conduit or pipe 18 leading to a desired part of the motor so that the desired lubrication can be efiected by the oil drawn from the crank case C and forced outthrough the conduit or pipe 18.

Snugly fitting within the chamber 1 1 and having movement longitudinally thereof is a weighted member 19 of electricconductive material and which member 19 moves downwardly by gravity. The downward move-.

ment of the member 19 is limited by a stop 20 herein disclosed as a shank threaded through a wall of the chamber 14 and substantially insulated therefrom. In electric connection with the outer end portion of the shank 20 is an electrical conductor 0, also in electrical connection with the magneto M of the motor. The shank 20 and the weight 19 constitute relatively movable contact members for a circuit closure and when'the member 19 is in engagement with the shank 20 the ignition system is short circuited so that the motor is prevented from operating.

Interposed in the conductor a is a switch 21 so that the short circuit can be broken whenv it is desired to start the motor. As the motor operates,the cam 52 in connection with the expansible member 5 causes the desired reciprocation of the plunger 1 and which operation of the plunger draws 'oil from the crank case C or the like and upwardly into the chamber 14;. The check valves 8 prevent retrograde fiow of the oil. The oil passing into the chamber 14 raises the member 19 preferably above the lower port 16 so that the oil can be forced through the nozzle 15 and the conduit or pipe 18 to properly lubricate the motor. The port 17 provides escape for any oil that may pass or rise above the member 19. As long as the oil is passing through the chamber 14, the member 19 is maintained elevated or raised, but should the supply of oil becomeexhausted or the pipe or conduit 10 become clogged-or otherwlse unfit for use and the flow of oil cease, the member 19 will drop and contact with the shank 20, resulting in a short circuiting of the ignition system and the consequent stopping of the motor. To facilitate the gravity or downward movement of the member 19, I position within the upper portion of the chamber 14 an expansible member 22 herein disclosed as a coiled spring.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a lubricating mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: a

1. A lubricating mechanism comprising a chamber provided with an outlet, means for forcing lubricant through the chamber and outlet, and relatively movable contact members carried by the chamber, said contact members being maintained separatedby the pressure of the lubricant passing through the chamber, one of said contacts moving by gravity into engagement with a second contact upon reduction of the pressure of the lubricant passing through the chamber.

2. A lubricating mechanism comprising a chamber provided with an outlet, means for forcing lubricant through the chamber and outlet, and relatively movable contact members carried by the chamber, said contact members being maintained separated by the pressure of the lubricant passing through the chamber, the outlet being in communication with the chamber at spaced points, one of said contacts moving by gravity into engagement with a second contact upon re duction of the pressure of the lubricant passing through the chamber. a

3. In combination with a motor, a lubricating mechanism comprising a chamber provided with an outlet anddirectly in commlunication with a source of lubricant sup- P .7, ing the lubricant through the chamber, and means carried by the chamber and'under control of the pressure of the lubricant passing through the chamber for controlling the operation of the motor.

4. A lubricating mechanism comprising a chamber provided with an outlet, means for forcing lubricant through the chamber and outlet, relatively movable contact members carried by the chambers, said contact members being maintained separated by the means operated by the motor for forccarried by the chambers, said contact memnamed contact member by the pressure of here being maintained separated by the the lubricant passing through the chamber. pressure of the lubricant passing through 6. A lubricating mechanism comprising a .the chamber, one of said contact members chamber provided with an outlet, means for 20 moving by gravity into engagement With forcing lubricant through the chamber and the second contact member upon reduction the outlet, and relatively movable contact of pressure of the lubricant passing through members arranged within the chamber, one the chamber and expansible means coacting of said contact members moving toward the with said first named contact member for other by gravity and of a specific gravity 25 imparting movement to said contact member greater than the lubricant passing through in a direction toward the second contact the chamber, said contact members being member upon reduction of the pressure of maintained separated by the pressure of the the lubricant passing through the chamber, lubricant passing through the chamber.

said expansible member being placed under In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my 30 compression by said first named contact signature. 1

member when separated from the second LAKE B. EDWARDS. 

